Takuma Sato

Takuma Sato, born on 28 January 1977 in Tokyo, was an attacking, all-or-nothing racer who became one of Japan's most beloved drivers before achieving even greater fame in American open-wheel racing. He came to Formula 1 having won the prestigious British Formula 3 Championship, and made his grand prix debut with Jordan in 2002.

After his rookie season at Jordan, Sato moved to BAR, where he produced the defining F1 result of his career at the 2004 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, finishing third for his only podium. He later became the standard-bearer for the Honda-backed Super Aguri team from 2006 to 2008, scoring memorable points finishes against the odds in modest machinery. Across 91 starts he took 1 podium and 44 points.

It was in IndyCar that Sato reached the pinnacle of his career. He won the Indianapolis 500 not once but twice, in 2017 and again in 2020, becoming the first Japanese driver to win the iconic race and etching his name into motorsport history. His fearless, attacking approach, summed up by his own motto "no attack, no chance," made him a hugely popular figure on both sides of the Pacific.

Sato was an uncompromising, aggressive racer who attacked every overtaking opportunity, an approach that produced both spectacular moves and the occasional incident. While his Formula 1 results were limited by the equipment at his disposal, his twin Indianapolis 500 triumphs cemented his legacy as one of the most successful Japanese drivers in motorsport history and an inspiration for a generation of racers from his home country.